Storage locker

ABSTRACT

A substantially closed multi-sided elongated channel frame locker support member is provided and includes a pair of converging side panels substantially closing the cross-section of the channel frame. Each of the converging side panels of the channel frame is at a pre-selected angle to its adjacent side panel so that the channel frame can be pre-engineered with one or more arrays of shelf locating and receiving slots in each of the converging side panels and a corresponding number of arrays of door pivot pin receiving holes in each of the side panels adjacent to a converging side panel. Said arrays of shelf receiving slots and door pivot pin receiving holes are in a predetermined relationship along the length of the channel support frame. When four of these channel support frames are mounted as vertical locker supports, any one of a wide variety of modular shelf and wardrobe configurations can be pre-selected. Use of the channel frame support additionally simplifies the manufacturing process.

List United States Patent 1 1 1 v 1 13,819,246

N lJune 25,1974

1 1 STORAGE LOCKER Primary ExaminerJames T. Mca11 [75] Inventor. Herbert A. List, Flossmoor, Ill. Attorney, g or Firm charles M. Chadd q [73] Assignee: List Industries, Inc., Chicago, 111.

[22] Filed: Oct. 20, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT 1 1 PP 299,270 A substantially closed multi-sided elongated channel frame locker support member is provided and includes [52] US Cl 312/257 SK, 52/656 312/213 a pair of converging side panels substantially closing 312/140 312/351 the cross-section of the channel frame. Each of the {51] Int. Cl A17b 43/00 Converging Side Panels of the channel frame is a 58] Field of Search 312/257 SK 213 140 pre-selected angle to its adjacent side panel so that the 52/73} 5 475 4 7 channel frame can be pre-engineered with one or i 287718936 more arrays of shelf locating and receiving slots in each of the converging side panels and a correspond- [56] References Cited ing number of arrays of door pivot pin receiving holes in each of the side panels adjacent to a converging UNITED STATES PATENTS side panel. Said arrays of shelf receiving slots and door 1,325,174 12/1919 Sinnot 108/107 pivot pin receiving holes are in 3 pm-determined rela- Hauserman et a1 tion hip along the length of hannel upport 1,952,111 3/1934 Bales 108/107 108/107 frame. When four of these channel support frames are 52/633 mounted as vertical locker supports, any one of a nude n 52/732 X variety of modular shelf and wardrobe configuratlons 0 211/143 X can be pre-selected. Use of the channel frame support 3,543,464 12/1970 Taylor 52/656 d n y simplifi s th manufacturing process.

3,592,345 7/1971 Featherman 108/107 3,648,426 3/1972 Chaudhary 52/633 llclalmsfinrawmg Figures 1,996,518 4/1935 Levene et a1. 2,733,786 2/1956 Drake 3,052,291 /1962 Fellers 3,475,044 10/ l 969 Konstant mmimmm FIG.3

r m, w m

1 STORAGE LOCKER BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to storage lockers andhas particular applicability in those types of lockers commonly known as gym lockers. Gym lockers are generally used in school or club athletic facilities and allow the user to store his possessions while participating in athletic events. The'lockers generally contain either shelf or wardrobe space, or a combination of the two, whereby various types of apparel and other possession can be conveniently accommodated.

It is conventional to construct such lockers by using 90 angle bar shapes for vertical support members. These angle bars are welded to expanded or sheet metal locker sides and backs. The substantially open bar shape leaves the sharp edges of the sides and back exposed to the user; thereby creating a safety hazard. Furthermore, the use of such support members does not result in a particularly rigid locker unit.

Because different locker room facilities have different storage requirements, locker manufacturers are required to offer a wide variety of shelf and wardrobe configurations. It is conventional to manufacture these lockers by having the assembler first measure the desired shelf and door heights along the length of the vertical support members and then position and weld or bolt shelves, door pivot pins and door hinges directly to the vertical supports at the previously measured and selected locations. This measuring, positioning and fastening operation must be repeated for each locker unit constructed. The wide variety. of models offered for sale adds further complications to the manufacturing process.

For example, a customer ordering a 72 inch locker may want two 12 inch shelves and a 48 inch wardrobe, while another customer might require four 18 inch shelves. In accordance with conventional practices, each of the various shelf and door locations must be manually measured along the vertical support members and then the selected component must be manually positioned at its appropriate location on the vertical supports so that it can be welded into place. The operation is time-consuming and must be performed by a man skilled in welding techniques.

This conventional lockerhas another notable disadvantage because it is not extremely rugged and can suffer only a limited amount of abuse.

In accordance with the present invention, a channel frame support member is provided which overcomes the aforementioned prior art deficiencies. This support member is a substantially closed multi-sided elongated channel frame of relatively large cross-sectional area, which makes it stronger than the open angle bar chan nel frames previously used. The channel includes a pair of converging side panels substantially closing the cross-section of the channel frame and each converging side panel is at a pre-selected angle to its adjacent side panel and that panel is, of course, at a pre-selected angle to the remaining panel or panels. The angular relationships between each converging side panel and the remaining side panels enables the channel frame to be pre-engineered with shelf receiving and door pivot pin receiving apertures. The rare-engineering aspect of the channel frame of the present invention permits selection from a large number of modular shelf and wardrobe configurations.

Each of the converging side panels of the channel frame constructed according to the present invention includes along its length one or-more arrays of shelf receiving and locating slots and each of the channel frame side panels adjacent to a converging side panel includes along its length a corresponding number of one or morearrays of door pivot pin receiving holes. Of course, an equivalent channel frame configuration could be constructed so that the pivot pin holes are located in an equivalently positioned pair of side panels not adjacent to the converging side panels as long as the necessary pre-selected angular relationship between a converging side panel and its pivot pinhole containing side panel is maintained, but such a channel frame would still be within the scope of the present invention.

The linear relationship between each array of shelf locating and receiving slots and the corresponding array of door pivot pin receiving holes is predetermined and designed to enable selection from a group of modular shelf and door arrangements. When four of these channel support frames are mounted as vertical locker supports, corner tabbed shelves can be fitted into the slots at the selected shelf locations. The shelves can additionally be spot weldedinto place.

It is seen that the pre-engineering features of the channel frame of the present invention substantially improve the manufacturing process by both eliminating the measuring step and simplifying the welding step. Additionally, when using the frame support of the present invention, unlike the prior art, the shelf will remain in place by virtue of the receiving slot even if a weld breaks.

A further inadequacy of conventional gym storage lockers is that these lockers are not rigidly stable units. Conventional support members are not of adequate strength and do not provide a means to tie the structure together. Therefore, unless these lockers are carefully shimmed and leveled upon installation, they will lean in the direction of the slope of the floor and quickly lose their rectangular configuration becoming instead slanted parallelograms. This lack of rigidity throws the rectangularly shaped locker doors out of line so that they will not close correctly. Lockers constructed according to the present invention and using inter alia the channel frame supports as bottom support members will form a rigid self contained unit which will not lean even if it is incorrectly and inadequately leveled during installation.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims i and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which show structure embodying preferred features of the present invention and the principles thereof, and what is now considered to be the best mode in which to apply these principles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, and in which like numerals are employed to design like parts through the same:

FIG. 1 is a channel frame support constructed, according to the invention, prior to being formed into a substantially closed cross-section.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section through line AA' of FIG. 1 after the channel is formed into shape.

FIG. 3 shows a locker constructed using the channel frame shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,the channel frame sup port used in lockers constructed according to the present invention is an elongated, substantially closed, fivesided, hollow, cold-rolled channel with edging lips 11, 12 provided a small opening for receiving and enclosing expanded or solid metal panels. Two side panels 13, 14 are at right angles to the front panel 15 of the channel bar. Adjacent to each of the side panels 13, 14 are converging panels 16, 17, each of which forms about a 135 angle with its respective adjacent side panel.

According to the present invention, as exemplified in FIG. 1, a series of groups or arrays of shelf receiving and locating slots are vertically arranged on each of the converging side panels 16, 17 of the channel frame 10. Each array contains four slots 18, 19, 20, 21, which are spaced and repeated at pre-selected intervals along the length of the converging panel. In the array disclosed in FIG. 1, the four slots are spaced at intervals of 1 inch, 1 inch and 2 inches. The first slot 18 in the second array is spaced two inches below the last slot 21 in the first array. In the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 1, the first slot 18 in the first array is eight inches below the top of the channel frame.

In the embodiment described in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pivot pin holes 22, 23, 24, 25 are spaced at intervals of 1 inch, 1 inch and-2 inches. The first hole in the second array 22' is spaced two inches from the last hole in the first array 25. This pattern is repeated down the length of the panels 13 and 14. The first or uppermost slot 18 in each shelf receiving slot array is 1% inch above the first pivot pin mounting hole 22 in each pivot pin mounting hole array. Similarly each slot is We above its corresponding pivot pin hole.

A base door pivot pin mounting hole 26 is eight inches above the first pivot pin hole 22 of the first array. Of course, for ease in construction of the channel frame, an additional array of both shelf receiving slots and pivot pin mounting holes can be inserted at the uppermost end of the channel frame. In this alternative construction, the first pivot pin receiving hole in the first array would be 2 inches below base hole 26. All other relationships would remain the same.

It is seen that the relationship between the arrays of shelf receiving slots and pivot pin mounting holes enables selection from a wide variety of modular storage locker configurations. If the uppermost shelf in a locker unit is mounted in the first slot in the first array 18, an 8 inch high shelf is selected; therefore, an 8 inch, top pivoted box door is mounted in base pivot pin hole 26 and the next succeeding door is mounted in the corresponding first pivot pin hole 22 in the first array. The configuration disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2 offers selected from 8 inch, 9 inch, 10 inch, 12 inch, 14inch, 15 inch, etc. shelf heights. The predetermined relationship between the shelf receiving slots and the door pivot pin mounting holes enables doors to be mounted in the holes corresponding to the selected shelf locations.

A gym locker constructed according to the present invention is shown in detail in FIG. 3. Four of the previously described channel frames 27, 28, 29, 30 are used as the vertical support members of the locker unit 31. (Identical channel frames are the vertical supports for locker unit 32.) These vertical support members form the edging for and completely enclose expanded metal or solid steel sides 33 (only one side is shown) and back 34. This construction is considerably safer than one using the open channels of the prior art because it completely encloses the rough edges of the expanded metal. It is also much simplier to weld the expanded metal to the channel frame supports of the present invention.

The closed channel frame of the present invention is also used'for all horizontal bottom and top supports as exemplified by 35, 36. This provides both extra strength and a complete enclosure of the expanded metal.

As exemplified by the locker combination shown in FIG. 3, the pre-engineered vertical channel support of the present invention allows pre-selection from any of a large number of modular shelf and door combinations. The locker unit 31, shown on the left, has two 12 inch shelves and a 48 inch wardrobe, while the unit 32, on the right, has four 18 inch shelves.

The assembling advantages arising from the built-in gauging of the closed channel support frame are readily seen. In order to construct the locker unit 31, the assembler need only fit corner tabled shelves 37, 38 in the appropriate shelf receiving and positioning slots, which in this case would be the fourth members 21 of the first and third arrays of receiving slots. Following that operation, simple spot welds will rigidly fix the shelves into place. Top-hinged doors 39, 40 are fitted into place by positioning door pivot pins in the appropriate mounting holes of channel frame supports 27, 29. The 12 inch doors of locker unit 31 are mounted in the uppermost pivot pin receiving hole 26 and the fourth hole 25 in the first array. The door pivot pin holes can additionally be used to receive the hinges for the side opening wardrobe door 41.

The locker unit 32 is assembled by fitting comer tabbed shelves 42 (only one shown) in the fourth slot 21' in the second array of each vertical support frame and in the slots following at intervals of l8 inches (i.e., the fourth slots in the fifth and eighth arrays). The tophinged doors 43, 44, 45, 46 are fitted in the uppermost pin hole 26, the fourth pin hole 25 in the second array, the fourth pin hole in the fifth array and the fourth pin hole in the eighth array, respectively.

A further advantage of the locker construction of FIG. 3 is that the entire unit is constructed in a single rigid base. As seen in FIG. 3, a single unitary bottom base support 47 connects both the first and second locker units 31, 32. This unit base support 47 when tied together with vertical and horizontal channel frame supports constructed as described herein creates a rigid unit that will hold its rectangular shape even if installed without proper leveling. The unit will remain rigid even after suffering the abuse normally given to equipment of this type.

Thus while preferred construction features are embodied in the structure illustrated herein, it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a modular storage locker, a support member comprising an elongated five panel-sided channel frame including (1 a front panel; (2) a pair of converging side panels substantially closing the cross-section of the channel frame, each one of said pair of converging side panels including along its length one or more arrays of shelf receiving and locating slots; and (3) a pair of side panels located at opposite ends of the front panel, each one forming about a 90 angle with the front panel at one end and an angle of about 135 with one of said converging side panels at its other end and including along its length a corresponding number of one or more arrays of locker door pivot pin mounting holes with each of said pivot pin hole arrays positioned in a predetermined linear relationship to the corresponding array of shelf receiving and locating slots wherein said predetermined linear relationship is defined to enable selection from a designated group of modular locker shelf and door arrangement.

2. A support member as in claim 1 wherein each of said arrays of shelf receiving and locating slots and door pivot pin mounting holes contains four members.

3. A support member as in claim 2 wherein said side panels including door pivot pin mounting holes include an uppermost base pivot pinhole.

4. In a modular storage locker, a support member comprising an elongated five panel-sided channel frame including 1) a front panel; (2) a pair of converging side panels substantially closing the cross-section of the channel frame, each one of said pair of converging side panels including along its length one or more arrays of shelf receiving and locating slots; and a pair of side panels located at opposite ends of the front panel, each one forming about a 90 angle with the front panel at one end and an angle of about 135 with one of said converging side panels at its other end and including along its length a corresponding number of one or more arrays of locker door pivot pin mounting holes with each of said pivot pin hole arrays positioned in a predetermined linear relationship to the corresponding array of shelf receiving and locating slots so that each shelf receiving slot in each of said slot arrays is located a predetermined distance above each corresponding pivot pin mounting hole in each of said pivot pin hole arrays so as to enable selection from a designated group of modular shelf and door arrangements.

5. A support member as in claim 4 wherein each of said arrays of shelf receiving and locating slots and door pivot pin mounting holes contains four members.

6. A support member as in claim 5 wherein said side panels including door pivot pin mounting holes include an uppermost base pivot pin hole.

7. A support member as in claim 4 wherein each of said arrays of shelf receiving slots includes four members spaced at intervals of 1 inch, 1 inch and 2 inches,

each of said arrays of door pivot pin mounting holes includes four members spaced at intervals of 1 inch, 1 inch and 2 inches and the first shelf receiving slot in each of said slot arrays is 1% inches above the first pivot pin mounting hole in each of said pivot pin hole arrays.

8. A support member as in claim 7 wherein each succeeding array of shelf receiving slots and door pivot pin mounting holes starts 2 inches below the last member of the preceding array.

9. A support member as in claim 6 wherein said first array of door pivot pin mounting holes starts eight inches below said base pivot pin hole, each of said arrays of shelf receiving slots includes its four members spaced at intervals of 1 inch, 1 inch and 2 inches, each of said arrays of door pivot pin mounting holes includes its four members spaced at intervals of 1 inch, 1 inch and 2 inches, the first shelf receiving slot in each of said slot arrays is 1 /8 inches above the first pivot pin mounting hole in each of said pivot pin hole arrays, and wherein each succeeding array of shelf receiving slots and door pivot pin holes starts two inches below the last member of the preceding array.

10. A support member as in claim 6 wherein said first array of door pivot pin mounting holes starts two inches below said base pivot pin hole, each of the said arrays of shelf receiving slots includes 7 its four members spaced at intervals of 1 inch, 1 inch and 2 inches, each of said arrays of door pivot pin mounting holes includes its four members spaced at intervals of 1 inch, 1 inch and 2 inches, the first shelf receiving slot in each of said slot arrays is 1% inches above the first pivot pin mounting hole in each of said pivot pinhole arrays, and wherein each succeeding array of shelf receiving slots and door pivot pin holes starts two inches below the last member of the preceding array.

11. In a modular storage locker, (l) a support member comprising an elongated five panel-sided channel frame including a front panel; a pair of converging side panels substantially closing the cross-section of the channel frame, each one of said pair of converging side panels including along its length one or more arrays of shelf receiving and locating slots; and a pair of side panels located at opposite ends of the front panel, each one forming about a angle with the front panel at one end and an angle of about with one of said converging side panels at its other end and including along its length a corresponding number of one or more arrays of locker door pivot pin mounting holes with each of said pivot pin hole arrays positioned in a predetermined linear relationship to the corresponding array of shelf receiving and locating slots so that each shelf re ceiving slot in each of said slot arrays is located a predetennined distance above each corresponding pivot pin mounting hole in each of said pivot pin hole arrays so as to enable selection from a designated group of modular shelf and door arrangements; (2) bottom horizontal support means connected to the vertical frame support members; (3) metal locker backs and sides fitted within and connected to respective ones of said multi-sided channel frame support members; (4) locker shelves inserted in pre-selected shelf receiving and locating slots; and (5) locker doors inserted in corresponding pivot pin mounting holes.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,819,246 7 Dated June 25 1974' lnv nt fl Herbert A. List It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column Line I Correction 1 T 13 1 possession should be "possessions" 2 48 inter alia should be underlined 3 50 1-1/8 should be 1 1/8" 4 3 V a selected should be "selection" 5 2 7 v arrangement shouldbe "arrangements" Signed? seald this; "29th day sf October 1914?" (SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner of Patents "FORM po'wso uscoMM-oc 60376-P69 i ".5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 2 I959 '-3G5-33l 

1. In a modular storage locker, a support member comprising an elongated five panel-sided channel frame inCluding (1) a front panel; (2) a pair of converging side panels substantially closing the cross-section of the channel frame, each one of said pair of converging side panels including along its length one or more arrays of shelf receiving and locating slots; and (3) a pair of side panels located at opposite ends of the front panel, each one forming about a 90* angle with the front panel at one end and an angle of about 135* with one of said converging side panels at its other end and including along its length a corresponding number of one or more arrays of locker door pivot pin mounting holes with each of said pivot pin hole arrays positioned in a predetermined linear relationship to the corresponding array of shelf receiving and locating slots wherein said predetermined linear relationship is defined to enable selection from a designated group of modular locker shelf and door arrangement.
 2. A support member as in claim 1 wherein each of said arrays of shelf receiving and locating slots and door pivot pin mounting holes contains four members.
 3. A support member as in claim 2 wherein said side panels including door pivot pin mounting holes include an uppermost base pivot pin hole.
 4. In a modular storage locker, a support member comprising an elongated five panel-sided channel frame including (1) a front panel; (2) a pair of converging side panels substantially closing the cross-section of the channel frame, each one of said pair of converging side panels including along its length one or more arrays of shelf receiving and locating slots; and a pair of side panels located at opposite ends of the front panel, each one forming about a 90* angle with the front panel at one end and an angle of about 135* with one of said converging side panels at its other end and including along its length a corresponding number of one or more arrays of locker door pivot pin mounting holes with each of said pivot pin hole arrays positioned in a predetermined linear relationship to the corresponding array of shelf receiving and locating slots so that each shelf receiving slot in each of said slot arrays is located a predetermined distance above each corresponding pivot pin mounting hole in each of said pivot pin hole arrays so as to enable selection from a designated group of modular shelf and door arrangements.
 5. A support member as in claim 4 wherein each of said arrays of shelf receiving and locating slots and door pivot pin mounting holes contains four members.
 6. A support member as in claim 5 wherein said side panels including door pivot pin mounting holes include an uppermost base pivot pin hole.
 7. A support member as in claim 4 wherein each of said arrays of shelf receiving slots includes four members spaced at intervals of 1 inch, 1 inch and 2 inches, each of said arrays of door pivot pin mounting holes includes four members spaced at intervals of 1 inch, 1 inch and 2 inches and the first shelf receiving slot in each of said slot arrays is 1 1/8 inches above the first pivot pin mounting hole in each of said pivot pin hole arrays.
 8. A support member as in claim 7 wherein each succeeding array of shelf receiving slots and door pivot pin mounting holes starts 2 inches below the last member of the preceding array.
 9. A support member as in claim 6 wherein said first array of door pivot pin mounting holes starts eight inches below said base pivot pin hole, each of said arrays of shelf receiving slots includes its four members spaced at intervals of 1 inch, 1 inch and 2 inches, each of said arrays of door pivot pin mounting holes includes its four members spaced at intervals of 1 inch, 1 inch and 2 inches, the first shelf receiving slot in each of said slot arrays is 1 1/8 inches above the first pivot pin mounting hole in each of said pivot pin hole arrays, and wherein each succeeding array of sheLf receiving slots and door pivot pin holes starts two inches below the last member of the preceding array.
 10. A support member as in claim 6 wherein said first array of door pivot pin mounting holes starts two inches below said base pivot pin hole, each of the said arrays of shelf receiving slots includes its four members spaced at intervals of 1 inch, 1 inch and 2 inches, each of said arrays of door pivot pin mounting holes includes its four members spaced at intervals of 1 inch, 1 inch and 2 inches, the first shelf receiving slot in each of said slot arrays is 1 1/8 inches above the first pivot pin mounting hole in each of said pivot pin hole arrays, and wherein each succeeding array of shelf receiving slots and door pivot pin holes starts two inches below the last member of the preceding array.
 11. In a modular storage locker, (1) a support member comprising an elongated five panel-sided channel frame including a front panel; a pair of converging side panels substantially closing the cross-section of the channel frame, each one of said pair of converging side panels including along its length one or more arrays of shelf receiving and locating slots; and a pair of side panels located at opposite ends of the front panel, each one forming about a 90* angle with the front panel at one end and an angle of about 135* with one of said converging side panels at its other end and including along its length a corresponding number of one or more arrays of locker door pivot pin mounting holes with each of said pivot pin hole arrays positioned in a predetermined linear relationship to the corresponding array of shelf receiving and locating slots so that each shelf receiving slot in each of said slot arrays is located a predetermined distance above each corresponding pivot pin mounting hole in each of said pivot pin hole arrays so as to enable selection from a designated group of modular shelf and door arrangements; (2) bottom horizontal support means connected to the vertical frame support members; (3) metal locker backs and sides fitted within and connected to respective ones of said multi-sided channel frame support members; (4) locker shelves inserted in pre-selected shelf receiving and locating slots; and (5) locker doors inserted in corresponding pivot pin mounting holes. 